Tension device for sewing-machines



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Oct, 28, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB BOPPEL, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

TENSION DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,378, dated October28, 1890.

Application filed October 11, 1889. Serial No. 326,657. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, JACOB BOPPEL, a citizen .of the United States,residing at Newark, in

the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain newand useful Improvements in Tension Devices for Sewing-Ma chines; andI dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, whichform a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to secure a more uniform tension in thatclass of sewingmachines represented by the one shown in my priorapplication, Serial No. 295,537, filed January 5, 1889.

The invention consists in the improved tension device and in thearrangements and combinations of parts, substantially as will behereinafter set forth, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like lettersindicatecorresponding parts in each of the several figures of the two sheets,Figure lis a side elevation, and Fig. 2 an under side plan, of the headof a sewingmachine, the general constructions and arrangements of partsof which are similar to those described and shown in my priorapplication for a patent above referred to. Fig. 3 is an end view of apeculiar spool-holdin g tension device embodying the greater part of myinvention. Fig. dis an elevation showing the pivoted parts comprisingsaid tension device turned from the positions indicated in Fig. 3, sothat the said device is open to receive the spool. Fig. 5 is a plan ofthe device when the parts are in the positions indicated in Fig. 4. Fig.6 is a section taken on line 00, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a plan of certainshafts or rods on which the said tension device moves reciprocatingly;and Fig. 8 is a section of the same, taken on line y. Fig. 9 is an endview taken from the end opposite that shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is adetail view of a slide adapted to engage the shafts or rods shown inFig. 7 and Fig. ll is a section taken on line .2, Fig. 9.

In said drawings, Ct indicates the bed-plate of the machine; I) b,shafts or rods on which the spool and its tension mechanisms slide backand forth under the influence of a spoolreciprocator c, and d is atoothed sleeve connected with a looping device, (indicated in Fig. 2,)by means of which the needle-thread is caught and a loop formed thereinto allow the spool and its thread to be passed through to form thestitch, as has been explained in the prior case above referred to.

The shafts or rods b b are cut or split, as at g, as by a saw, and onthe same is arranged the spool-holding tension device 71. This consistsof two parts 77. 71. one of which is pivoted on the other, as indicatedin Fig. 5, so that the said tension device can be opened to receive thespool. Each of said pivoted parts is provided with a disk-like head 77.k made of sheet metal and concavo-convex in shape, as indicated in Fig.6, the center of each being perforated, as a 71 to allow for theinsertion of the shafts or rods 1) b. At the center of one of said partsthe one marked h is fixed what may, perhaps, be termed a slide. Thisconsists of a plate 1', adapted to fit in the cuts or slots g in therods or shafts b b, and to slide longitudinally back and forth therein.The'said plate is turned at its edges, as at 11' 7 so as to lap onto theouter faces of the shafts or rods, as willbe understood upon referenceto Figs. 3, 4, and 9. By this means the slide is held in proper relativeposition. The faces of said shafts or rods 1) b, onto which the turnedportions 2" lie, are recessed slightly, as indicated at g in Fig. 7, sothat when the parts g '1 are together a continued roundness is presentedto the spool. At the end of said plate 11 where it it is fixed to one ofthe disk-like heads, the same is broadened to presentabroad bearing j tothe inner face of the disk, as will be understood upon reference toFigs. 10 and 11. The plate is attached to the part h by means of solder,by preference, although it may be secured in any other suitable manner.The slide being thus rigidly joined to the tension device, the latter isallowed to move reciprocatingly on the shafts or rods; but no pivotalmovement thereof is allowed, as will be evident.

In the preferred construction, each of the pivotal parts h k areconstructed with arms k 70, formed integral with the disks h h andextending from opposite sides of said disks longitudinally parallel withthe slide or plate t'. The arms 70 k of the part 77, overlie or lie onthe outer sides of those of the part h, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, andthe four arms are joined in pairs by hinge-pins or pivotal rivets Z, onwhich the pivotal parts 72 h turn in opening the device to receive thespool, as before described. The outer of said arms k k are each providedwith an eye m, through which the spool-thread passes, the said threadpassing from said spool between the arms k and outward through the eye.By this disposition of the thread the friction producing the tension issecured, and the eye is always in the same relation to the shaft andneedle because of the tension device being unable to turn on its shaftsor rods. Thus regularity of tension is attained.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is- 1. In asewing-machine, the tension device combining, with the split rods orshafts b b, a spool-holder having the slide 7 and pivoted parts h 7L2,one of which is provided with an eye m, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with a shaft, a spoolholding tension device, and meansforholding said tension device from pivotal movement, and means forreciprocating the same on said shaft, the said device consisting ofparts h 72. pivoted at Z, one of which parts is provided with athread-perforation m, substantially as set forth.

3. In a sewing-machine, the shafts b 5' thereof, the tension deviceconsisting of disks 7L3, centrally perforated and one provided with acentral slide, and each disk provided with arms 70 is, pivotally rivetedtogether, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this26th day of September, 1889.

JACOB BOPPEL.

Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, OSCAR A. MICHEL.

